Dr REFSHAUGE (Marrickville - Deputy Premier, Minister for Health, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) [3.54 p.m.]: I move:

That this House condemn the Federal Government for:

(a) threatening the health of New South Wales patients by slashing direct hospital funding;

(b) denying proper health care to vulnerable members of the community by slashing specific health programs and funding; and

(c) undermining the health and welfare of elderly residents of New South Wales through funding cuts and the introduction of discriminatory policy initiatives.

The vigour of the Howard Government’s attack on the public hospital system knows no bounds, with $130 million slashed in the past two Federal budgets alone and $736 million sucked out of aged care and pharmaceutical benefits. Direct hospital funding to
Page 1239
New South Wales has been slashed by $68 million over two years with the promise of more to come from the Federal health Minister. At the end of last year I received a letter from Michael Wooldridge which basically stated that the Howard Government would take $68 million from the State’s budget over two years because of what the previous coalition Government in New South Wales did in regard to health services. Mr Wooldridge has confirmed time and time again that he is penalising the people of New South Wales for what the Liberal-National Government did when it was in charge of the Treasury benches and the health care system.

The slashing of $68 million means that some 34,000 patients - almost 60 patients a day - who would have been treated are not now being treated as a direct result of the John Howard-Peter Costello cuts to our health budget. The Howard Government has been busy with the scalpel in every area of the public health system in Australia, cutting direct and indirect funding. This is a substantive attack by the Howard Government on the fabric of public health in Australia. It is an attack on the very fabric of our society. It is an attack without parallel on the patients of Australia - the elderly and the vulnerable.

The Carr Government recognises that New South Wales has the most dedicated and highly skilled medical work force in this country. We have backed that recognition with a real financial commitment; we have invested nearly $1 billion in New South Wales public hospitals in less than three years. That is a major increase that the former Government refused to give; indeed, it cut all hospital budgets by about 1.5 per cent every year. Every year hospitals faced what the previous Government called productivity cuts, until its spin doctors changed the name of them to health gains. But the previous Government took money - whatever it was called - from hospital budgets.

Undoubtedly all doctors and nurses know that coalition governments take money out of hospital budgets. The Carr Government has massively increased hospital budgets by almost $1 billion over three years. That record is unrivalled. Indeed, it dramatically shows the commitment of this Government to the people of New South Wales. The Howard Government does not show a commitment; indeed, it shows a lack of commitment by cutting real health funding. Despite Howard’s savage budget cuts, New South Wales has secured some of the shortest surgery waiting times in Australia: an average of 5½ weeks in New South Wales, compared with 5½ months in Western Australia.

Ms Ficarra: The Minister is totally out of touch.

Dr REFSHAUGE: Obviously the honourable member for Georges River wants to have waiting times of 5½ months, but I will not bow to her concerns. I will not increase waiting times to 5½ months. Of particular and pertinent concern to the issue are those who have been waiting more than 12 months for surgery. Obviously most of them have been waiting a long time, and the Government wants to get their surgery done significantly earlier. The Government has been criticised lately about the figure of 3,575 people whom the Opposition says are waiting at present.

Mrs Skinner: They are the Government’s figures.

Dr REFSHAUGE: They are the Opposition’s figures. Presumably the honourable member does not believe the figures that the Opposition has supplied. The Opposition’s figures show that 3,575 people have been waiting more than 12 months.

Mrs Skinner: No, the Minister says; they are his figures.

Dr REFSHAUGE: The figures are in the Opposition’s own material. If they do not want to own the figures, that is fine. It is difficult when Opposition members do not believe their own words. They are highlighting the problem that 3,575 people have been waiting more than 12 months, but how many people had been waiting more than 12 months in November 1993? In November 1993 the number was 4,100. Where was the honourable member for North Shore when the number of people waiting more than 12 months was 4,100? Was she jumping up in this place? Was she ringing radio stations every morning? She was supporting the privatisation of Port Macquarie hospital.

Mrs Skinner: I wasn’t here, you idiot.

Dr REFSHAUGE: The honourable member has never been here. She has been damned out of her own mouth. When the number is 600 fewer than when the coalition was in government, all of a sudden it becomes a problem. The honourable member for North Shore is the problem. In the past seven years July 1996 had the lowest number of patients waiting for surgery - 938. At that time we expected the Federal Government, which came in with commitments to maintain Medicare and bulk billing - both of which it has decided to ditch - to
Page 1240
maintain its health funding. But since that time the Federal Government started to cut our budgets. It took money directly out of our budgets, directly out of our hospitals. It is absolutely disgusting. From that date an extra 17,000 patients per year have not been treated because of John Howard’s cuts in the Federal Government’s budget. A letter came to me saying, "You will lose this money because of what Ron Phillips and Peter Collins did." It is Ron Phillips and Peter Collins whom John Howard is penalising, but the reality is he is penalising the people of New South Wales.

Since 1996 we have been warning of the dangers to the public hospital system of John Howard’s cuts. In two years $68 million in direct hospital funding has been slashed by the Federal Government. Every $34 million in cuts means that 17,000 patients cannot be treated. I am prepared to stand up for those patients, but not one person on the other side has stood up for them. Their colleagues in other States are standing up for them, they are showing some initiative, they are prepared to take on the Federal Government when it makes wrong decisions, but those opposite have been unbelievably silent when the people of New South Wales have been targeted by their colleagues in Canberra. Every coalition health Minister in this country stands side by side with me on this issue, and they all say, "John Howard’s cuts are hurting our patients." In two years, $68 million has been cut from our budget. It is no wonder that it is difficult for our good doctors and nurses to cope when John Howard cuts the budget, despite the fact that the New South Wales Government is putting in the extra funding. There is a direct correlation between John Howard’s cuts and more people waiting longer for surgery, and that will continue if we cannot get the Federal Government to change its mind and reverse its cuts.

Extra pressure is exerted by the fallout from private health insurance, a plummeting of private health insurance membership, under John Howard. But the Federal Government said, "We will prop up private health insurance and put $1.5 billion into private health insurance companies." One would hope there would be some improvement as a result of $1.5 billion of taxpayers’ money, at John Howard’s bequest, going into private health funds. But private health funds have increased their premiums while membership rates have continued to plummet, despite the fact that John Howard has squandered $1.5 billion of taxpayers’ money propping up private health insurance funds. It would have been better had he given the money to the States to run the hospitals instead of squandering it on private health funds, which have increased their rates and which continue to experience a fall in membership. This narky group on the other side constantly says, "Keep on cutting New South Wales." I am standing up for the people of New South Wales. Every day more than 60 patients miss out on surgery because John Howard’s cuts continue, yet those opposite refuse to stand up for the people of New South Wales.

Mrs SKINNER (North Shore) [4.04 p.m.]: We have heard another breathtaking display of hypocrisy from the Minister, who again tries his shameless shift of responsibility to the Commonwealth. Members of the media who ring me at home at 6 o’clock in the morning say, "He is on about it again. He is trying to blame the Commonwealth for everything." It will not wash. The reality is this year the Commonwealth has increased funding to the State Government for New South Wales hospitals in real terms by 1.3 per cent. I will read from the statement made by the Commonwealth Minister on 10 September:

Over the past six years we have increased funding to NSW hospitals by almost $350 million, or 16 per cent in real terms.

We have nobody but the former Minister for Health, the Hon. Ron Phillips, to thank for that. He was the person who, on behalf of New South Wales, negotiated that Medicare agreement. Thank you, Mr. Phillips, for negotiating that funding increase for the people of New South Wales. Doctor Wooldridge went on to say, and this is the important part:

Last year the Federal Government provided $1.5 billion for NSW hospitals and this year increased that funding to $1.59 billion.

The operative letter is "b" for billion - $1.59 billion compared to $34 million, which is a repayment for money cost shifted by the State under this Minister, which continues to be cost shifted by this Minister, to either the Commonwealth or the private sector. A prime example is happening as we speak: public hospitals are encouraged to get private patients into beds that are supposed to be used for public patients. If that occurs the State Government gets a top up of funding from another source. At the time the Federal Minister for Health released this press statement he said:

For too long Andrew Refshauge has preferred to play politics with waiting lists rather than take responsibility for patient care.

That is exactly what he is doing. He knew that I would move an urgent motion on this matter today
Page 1241
because I spoke to the media about it before question time. He is trying to save his neck, shift the blame and shift the responsibility. It is important that the people of this State who are suffering under this Minister because they cannot get into hospitals, because hospitals have to consider closing beds, sacking staff, and closing operating theatres, have an opportunity through this Chamber to have these matters expressed. I move:

That the motion be amended by leaving out all words after the word "That" with a view to inserting instead:

This House condemns the Deputy Premier, Minister for Health, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs for:

(a) the 58 per cent increase in the number of people waiting more than 12 months for surgery under the Labor Government, up from 2,264 in March 1995 to 3,575 in June 1997;

(b) the record high waiting list, with June 1997 figures showing just under 50,000 people waiting for surgery in New South Wales public hospitals;

(c) the blow-out in the average waiting time from 27 days under the former coalition Government to 39.5 days last count - a 44 per cent increase;

(d) widespread reduction in operating hours and bed closures which means there are now five hospitals with waiting lists of over 2,000;

(e) his refusal to release July 1997 waiting list statistics; and

(f) his dishonest claim that his management of the health system is the fault of the Commonwealth Government when it has actually increased its payment to New South Wales hospitals this year by 1.3 per cent in real terms.

It is important that we accept and support this amendment, because this is how we get an opportunity to show that we care for the individual patients in New South Wales and for all the 375 people who are now waiting more than 12 months for surgery. When the Minister was speaking earlier he disputed these figures, but they come from the figures the Minister released to the press gallery a couple of weeks ago. They are the figures for the end of June 1997, and I am very happy to table them in this House. I am also happy to table the March 1995 figure of 2,264, which is what the figure was when the Carr Government came to office and when the Minister said that waiting lists were the all-important thing. It is absolutely fascinating to hear the Minister confess that, in fact, the number of people waiting more than 12 months reduced to 938 in July 1996.

It is a shocking indictment of the Government that from July 1996 to June 1997 that figure has gone up to 3,500: that is an utter disgrace. That, if nothing else, proves why this House should support my amendment, so that the people know that they are supported in their need for honest and fair treatment from the State Government. My amendment should be supported and the Minister’s motion should be dismissed as an absolutely irrelevant and frivolous way of trying to shift his responsibility for hospital care. Hospitals are suffering enormous blow-outs - up to 58 per cent across the State - and some hospitals have had a most alarming increase in the number of patients waiting more than 12 months for elective surgery.

I hope that members of the Government are listening to me in their offices. I inform the honourable member for Auburn that the number of patients waiting more than 12 months for elective surgery in Auburn hospital has risen from 69 in March 1995 to 224 in June 1997. At Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital the number has risen from 11 to 163; at Bulli District Hospital, from six to 119; at Coffs Harbour hospital, from four to 42; at Gosford Hospital, from 99 to 238; at Liverpool Hospital, from 78 to 199; at the New Children’s Hospital, from 11 to 50; and at Mount Druitt hospital, from 39 to 105.

The Minister said he had increased the health budget to $5.6 billion. Why is the New Children’s Hospital forced to consider the most unacceptable, draconian measures to rein in a debt of $4 million? Why does that hospital have to consider sacking nurses and shutting down two specialist wards? Why is the children’s elective surgery waiting list at the New Children’s Hospital at a record high? The answer is because the Minister cannot manage health, he cannot manage a health budget of $5.6 billion. The New Children’s Hospital is our showcase hospital; it was built by the coalition Government, started by the Hon. Peter Collins when he was health Minister and finished by the Hon. Ron Phillips when he was health Minister.

The former Government built that hospital, but this Government cannot run it. The Minister could not run a chook raffle. To think that he is responsible for a budget of $5.6 billion, and that patients in this State rely upon him as the Minister for hospitals, is scary. It is time that the Minister grew up, accepted that he is the Minister for hospitals, ensured that hospitals have their needed resources and that patients get the treatment they require. Before he was elected in March 1995 the Minister, along with the Premier, said that he had to halve hospital waiting lists. It was so terribly important that he had to halve the waiting lists otherwise he and the Premier would resign. The
Page 1242
Premier promised to write that in his blood. They fiddled the figures and put people on fake waiting lists that were not counted, and they pretended that they had halved the hospital waiting lists.

In June 1996 the Minister said, "The number does not count any more, it does not matter, it is irrelevant. What really counts is the length of time that patients wait." I welcomed the Minister’s new-found support for the notion that waiting times were an important element of waiting lists. I supported the Minister when he said that it would be great to go for zero people on waiting lists for more than 12 months. That was just 12 months ago and now we have a record high of 3,575 people waiting more than 12 months. The Minister should stand condemned; he must accept his responsibility for funding and supporting New South Wales hospitals.

Ms HALL (Swansea) [4.14 p.m.]: I support the motion. Once again the honourable member for North Shore has demonstrated to this House where her allegiance lies - it does not lie with the people, but with her mates in Canberra. The honourable member for North Shore is trying to justify the actions of the Howard Government.

Mrs Skinner: You will be going to Canberra soon.

Ms HALL: Your mates in Canberra most definitely will not be my mates. The honourable member remains committed to the philosophy and policies that led to the privatisation of the Port Macquarie hospital. When I listened to her I could not help but think that she was arguing to break the Medicare agreement. The Federal Government has shown a callous disregard for the health and wellbeing of the people of New South Wales. In every budget, every policy, and at every turn, the Howard Government has attempted to undermine health services in New South Wales. By supporting the Federal Government the Opposition stands condemned. The Federal Government has cut funds, slashed programs and introduced regressive and cruel policies.

I challenge every member of this Chamber to try to think of one good thing that the Howard Government has done to improve the heath care system for the people of this State. One only has to look at newspapers of recent days to see the devastation wrought on nursing homes. The up-front accommodation bonds and the high user-pay fees are cruel and vindictive. Last week members of this House supported that policy when it was discussed. The Federal Government is causing worry and concern to the aged and frail.

Mrs Skinner: On a point of order. This motion is about hospitals and health care, not about nursing homes, which come under the provision of the Department of Community Services in this State.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! No point of order is involved.

Ms HALL: The Howard Government is placing barriers on admission to nursing homes and causing an unnecessary strain on public hospitals. That strain causes beds to be taken up, beds which could be used for elective surgery, and places an even greater strain on the 25 per cent of the people in our hospitals who are over the age of 65. But the cuts do not stop at aged care. At the beginning of this year the Howard Government abandoned the Commonwealth dental program - the program that provided essential dental care for pensioners and war veterans, especially in rural and regional communities such as the Hunter, where I come from.

The effect of this was immediately felt by the elderly across the State. Approximately 200,000 people will not receive dental care this year because of Canberra’s penny pinching. In rural areas 300 dentists have lost their jobs, leaving hundreds of communities without dental services. The Commonwealth dental health program was one of the finest initiatives of the former Labor Government. It brought to the elderly what most of us take for granted - quality and timely dental care. Howard has taken that security away from them.

The Federal Government is retreating from its responsibility to the public hospital system. In New South Wales hospitals $130 million has been cut and a further $68 million has been cut in a spurious claim of cost-shifting - a claim for which the Federal Government provided no evidence. The Federal Government’s attempt to stop the haemorrhaging in private health insurance has been a dismal failure. Despite millions of dollars in incentives, the level of private insurance has constantly fallen. The people of New South Wales are right to feel under siege by the Howard Government; they are right to feel victimised by Canberra; they are right to feel that, because the Howard Government does not care for them. The people of New South Wales deserve better than this. I support the motion.

Mr PHILLIPS (Miranda - Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [4.19 p.m.]: The oldest trick in the book, when one is a Minister under pressure, having difficulty in delivering services, is to pick a line item. Pick part of the budget, individual items that
Page 1243
have been cut, and go for the blame game. That is the biggest, oldest game in health and is played around Australia constantly. This blame game between the Commonwealth and the State has the State constantly saying that the Federal Government does not give it enough money or that the Federal Government has cut its budget on any item, and the Commonwealth responding by saying that the State is not delivering services efficiently enough.

This stupid blame game is a result of the way in which health funding is structured. That needs to be corrected, but the Minister cannot walk away from his responsibility for the health system. It is nothing less than a lie for the Minister to cry foul and pretend that he is not getting enough money, that his budgets are being cut merely because the Commonwealth has cut one small line item. As the honourable member for North Shore said, Commonwealth health funding has risen by about 1.3 per cent in real terms. Not only is the Minister for Health receiving that increase, this year alone he has had an increase in funding of $440 million. Since the Government came to office, funding for the New South Wales health system has risen by 16 per cent. Normally a government would be commended for increasing funding for health, but the question that all other Government Ministers, the Treasury, health authorities and the Opposition are asking is, where has the money gone? What is the Minister for Health doing with the money?

The New South Wales health system is facing a major management crisis. In the last couple of years more than 30 senior staff have disappeared. Perhaps that is why hospital waiting lists have not been reduced, why money is running through the Minister’s fingers and why a large number of hospitals in this State, including Sutherland Hospital, are well over budget and are struggling to fall within budget. Perhaps that is why the children’s hospital is closing wards and Campbelltown Hospital cannot get a CT scanner. Perhaps there is a management crisis in the New South Wales health system for which this Minister is responsible.

Opposition members knew the game that was played in the election campaign about waiting lists. The Premier and the Minister for Health said, "We will halve the waiting lists and sign it in blood." Waiting lists and waiting times are now at record levels. All of those health indicators show that the New South Wales health system is going backwards in spite of the fact that the Minister for Health has been given more money than health has ever received, and all he wants to do is to blame the Commonwealth. That is a cheap, shoddy trick. The Minister is relinquishing his responsibility to deliver good, efficient health care. Honourable members know that investment in the health system can be doubled. The United States of America spends about twice as much money per capita on health as Australia does, but the United States does not have as good a health outcome as we do. It is the way in which the money is spent that is important in health because the demand is unlimited.

The Government and this Minister have failed. They have more money than they could ever hope for to dramatically improve the health system, but they are not spending it wisely. They have a management crisis, a capital crisis. The capital budget for the last couple of years has not been spent. In the last two years capital works have been cut by 10.8 per cent. The system cannot continue without building it up. As I said, there is a brain drain and a morale crisis. Talk to the nurses, doctors and management. Their morale is the lowest I have ever seen. Perhaps they are the issues the Minister should confront rather than try to blame the Commonwealth. [Time expired.]

Mr GAUDRY (Newcastle) [4.24]: I support the motion of the Minister for Health. I do so because the Prime Minister, John Howard, leads a negligent and uncaring Federal Government, a Government that continues to slash funding to support the public health care system in this country, a Government that specifically disregards the needs of some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged of our society. These devastating and insensitive policy decisions are impacting on many levels throughout the community. Direct funding cuts to public hospitals, cuts to special purpose payments, downgrading the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, imposing exorbitant accommodation bonds and user charges on our frail and aged - [Quorum formed.]

Members opposite seem oblivious to the damaging impact that these dangerous and ill-advised policy decisions are having on families and communities of New South Wales. The Howard Government’s decision of 1 January to abolish the Commonwealth dental program represents another damaging blow to hundreds of thousands of people across the State. This move slashed funding to New South Wales public dental services by $34 million or 36 per cent of the general dental health budget. To give an example of its impact, I read a letter from the then Hunter Health Executive Officer, Tim Smyth, in which he stated :

As you would be aware, the Commonwealth Budget cut last year has had severe detrimental effect on our adult dental service capability. Having lost $3M, 50% of the available funding, the waiting times for dental treatment are now rising rapidly due to the ending of the Commonwealth Dental Health

Page 1244

Program on 31 December 1996. The number of patients waiting has already grown by 60% and average waiting times for non-emergency treatment have climbed from around 4 months to over 8 months. We anticipate that waiting times will be well over 12 months in the near future. The waiting for non-urgent denture replacement is now nearing 3 years.

Due to the cessation of Commonwealth funding we anticipate providing over 5,000 fewer courses of treatment this year, a dramatic fall in our service capability.

But he then gets to the real point:

To enable priority to be given to the provision of dentures to patients with the highest clinical need, the Hunter Area Dental Service will no longer be able to provide the following services from 1 July 1997:

* repairs of dentures
* replacement of dentures lost by patients
* provision of metal framework for partial dentures
* replacement of dentures that remain functional.

That is the sort of impact the Federal Government’s cuts are having on services to the most disadvantaged group of people in the community - the unemployed, the aged and people on social service benefits. It is an absolute disgrace. I commend the Minister for bringing this matter before the House.

Dr REFSHAUGE (Marrickville - Deputy Premier, Minister for Health, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs) [4.29], in reply: I thank the honourable member for Newcastle and the honourable member for Swansea for their sterling contributions, their understanding of the issues and their commitment not only to their constituents but to all residents of New South Wales. I was fascinated to hear the confessions of the former Minister for Health, the Hon. Ron Phillips. It is interesting to hear a former Minister say that he lied, cheated, manipulated and used every trick in the book. He was certainly very candid about the way in which he would manipulate figures and find different things to try to hide the reality. Despite the commitment of the former Government back in 1988 that it would each month release waiting list figures, the numbers relating to hospital beds and the figures relating to the number of nurses employed, it did not do so.

The coalition is full of hypocrisy. There is no doubt that honourable members at last heard the truth from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the former Minister for Health, who was prepared to say in the Chamber for the first time that he cheated, lied and manipulated the figures on a regular basis. Government members welcome the candour of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition - at last he has come clean. One thing that fascinates me about debates in the Chamber is the lack of interest shown by National Party members. One would think that the people of the bush would matter to their representatives.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Georges River will cease interjecting.

Dr REFSHAUGE: A National Party member should have spoken in this debate. National Party members have had plenty of opportunities to speak in debates such as this, but they never do. It used to be that the honourable member for Georges River was the second string of the Opposition - or the fourth string, if one took the honourable member for North Shore to be the Opposition’s lead speaker on health. The honourable member for Georges River has been relegated, she has not been able to make an impact. The people of the Georges River electorate say that their member is not standing up for them. The honourable member for Georges River has been dumped by the coalition, she has been put way out on the back bench.

Ms Ficarra: The Minister should make a return visit to the electorate.

Dr REFSHAUGE: It is easily known that empty vessels make the most noise, and she is making the noise. The honourable member for Georges River was part of the factional deal that would see her on the front bench. Things fell apart, and there she is dumped on the back bench. After my regular criticism of the National Party members not saying anything, one would have expected a member of the National Party to speak in the debate - there has been plenty of opportunity for National Party members to do so. But National Party members are wimps; they have not spoken up for their constituents. Day in and day out I receive letters from them complaining about the Federal Government’s funding cuts.

Every day we witness the devastating effects of the Federal Government cuts. Those cuts are evidenced in the aged-care legislation highlighted in the House the other day, which is having a devastating impact on our older citizens. The New South Wales coalition is the only State coalition to support the Federal Government changes. Every other State coalition opposes them. The New South Wales coalition is the only State coalition not prepared to stand up for its constituents. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition suggested an examination of significant changes in health and community services. No, the New South Wales coalition will not do that; it will be the party on the outside. The New South Wales coalition will be whingeing and
Page 1245
narking and - as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition says - cheating, lying and manipulating the figures.

The Government stands up for the people of New South Wales. It is putting extra funding into the public hospitals because it is committed to public health. The honourable member for North Shore has said that people with private health insurance should not use public hospitals. She is arguing to break the agreement signed by her deputy leader that there be no discrimination. She is prepared to discriminate and have a two-tier system. The honourable member for North Shore has been trying to break the Medicare agreement ever since she was elected to this place. She advocates privatisation of the health system. I point to the Port Macquarie hospital, which is costing the State a fortune. The Government will continue to stand up for the people of this State. It will stand with its colleagues, including those from the National Party and the Liberal Party in other States, to say that we want a better go. [Time expired.]

Question - That the words stand - put.

The House divided.

Ms Allan Mr Martin
Mr Amery Ms Meagher
Mr Anderson Mr Mills
Ms Andrews Ms Moore
Mr Aquilina Mr Moss
Mrs Beamer Mr Nagle
Mr Clough Mr Neilly
Mr Crittenden Ms Nori
Mr Debus Mr E. T. Page
Mr Face Mr Price
Mr Gaudry Dr Refshauge
Mr Gibson Mr Rogan
Mrs Grusovin Mr Rumble
Ms Hall Mr Scully
Mr Harrison Mr Shedden
Ms Harrison Mr Stewart
Mr Hunter Mr Sullivan
Mr Iemma Mr Tripodi
Mr Knight Mr Watkins
Mr Knowles Mr Whelan
Mr Langton Mr Woods
Mrs Lo Po’ Mr Yeadon
Mr Lynch
Dr Macdonald Tellers,
Mr McBride Mr Beckroge
Mr McManus Mr Thompson

Mr Armstrong Mr D. L. Page
Mr Beck Mr Peacocke
Mr Blackmore Mr Phillips
Mr Brogden Mr Photios
Mr Chappell Mr Richardson
Mrs Chikarovski Mr Rixon
Mr Collins Mr Rozzoli
Mr Debnam Mr Schipp
Mr Downy Mr Schultz
Mr Ellis Ms Seaton
Ms Ficarra Mrs Skinner
Mr Fraser Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Glachan Mr Small
Mr Hartcher Mr Smith
Mr Hazzard Mr Souris
Mr Humpherson Mr Tink
Dr Kernohan Mr J. H. Turner
Mr MacCarthy Mr R. W. Turner
Mr Merton Mr Windsor
Mr Oakeshott Tellers,
Mr O’Doherty Mr Jeffery
Mr O’Farrell Mr Kerr

Mr Carr Mr Cochran
Mr Markham Mr Kinross

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment negatived.

Question - That the motion be agreed to - put.

The House divided.

Ms Allan Mr Martin
Mr Amery Ms Meagher
Mr Anderson Mr Mills
Ms Andrews Ms Moore
Mr Aquilina Mr Moss
Mrs Beamer Mr Nagle
Mr Clough Mr Neilly
Mr Crittenden Ms Nori
Mr Debus Mr E. T. Page
Mr Face Mr Price
Mr Gaudry Dr Refshauge
Mr Gibson Mr Rogan
Mrs Grusovin Mr Rumble
Ms Hall Mr Scully
Mr Harrison Mr Shedden
Ms Harrison Mr Stewart
Mr Hunter Mr Sullivan
Mr Iemma Mr Tripodi
Mr Knight Mr Watkins
Mr Knowles Mr Whelan
Mr Langton Mr Woods
Mrs Lo Po’ Mr Yeadon
Mr Lynch
Dr Macdonald Tellers,
Mr McBride Mr Beckroge
Mr McManus Mr Thompson


Page 1246
Mr Armstrong Mr D. L. Page
Mr Beck Mr Peacocke
Mr Blackmore Mr Phillips
Mr Brogden Mr Photios
Mr Chappell Mr Richardson
Mrs Chikarovski Mr Rixon
Mr Collins Mr Rozzoli
Mr Debnam Mr Schipp
Mr Downy Mr Schultz
Mr Ellis Ms Seaton
Ms Ficarra Mrs Skinner
Mr Fraser Mr Slack-Smith
Mr Glachan Mr Small
Mr Hartcher Mr Smith
Mr Hazzard Mr Souris
Mr Humpherson Mr Tink
Dr Kernohan Mr J. H. Turner
Mr MacCarthy Mr R. W. Turner
Mr Merton Mr Windsor
Mr Oakeshott Tellers,
Mr O’Doherty Mr Jeffery
Mr O’Farrell Mr Kerr

Mr Carr Mr Cochran
Mr Markham Mr Kinross

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.